‘I Taught Students At Every Level’

Cover letter

My name is Marilyn Howard and I want to be Idaho’s superintendent of public instruction. I have 244,403 reasons to run for this office - the children enrolled in Idaho’s public schools.

I am a teacher and an administrator who has undertaken increasingly complex responsibilities for the past 38 years. I taught students at every level from kindergarten through high school and university. For the past 10 years I have been a school administrator in a culturally diverse school where children speak many languages. My job includes the supervision of a preschool for children with developmental delays.

I want all children to be able to read fluently and comprehend what they read. Through experience and research, I know how that can be achieved. We need a curriculum relevant to student needs in order to prepare our students to have a competitive advantage in a global economy. My work as a chairman of a state-level committee on career awareness brought educators, legislators, students and business and labor leaders together to plan for that goal.

We need safe schools that provide good learning environments and adequate funding for those schools. The issues before us will only be solved when we work together with respect and civility. I know how to work with people to reach agreement and implement improvements that are worthwhile. Together, we can prepare students for their future work, citizenship, lifelong learning and responsible family life. I am asking for your support.

This sidebar appeared with the story: RESUME OF MARILYN HOWARD (DEM) Education: Doctorate degree (Ed.D) in curriculum and instructional science, Brigham Young University, 1986. Master’s degree, education, University of Idaho, 1966. Bachelor’s degree, education, University of Idaho, 1960.

School employment/involvement highlights: Principal, West Park Elementary School, Moscow, 1988-present. Also supervise developmental preschool. Teacher, at levels from kindergarten to high school, in school districts in Idaho and Washington, 1960-1988. Directed research projects on early reading problems, 1974-1988 Served as adjunct instructor for Idaho State University and University of Idaho, and as teacher trainer for ISU Teacher Corps and Idaho Education Association’s Mobile Lab, during period from 1971 to present. Finalist for Teacher of the Year, 1979. Active member of professional associations including Idaho Association of School Administrators, Idaho Association of Elementary School Principals, Phi Delta Kappa, Palouse Local Partnership Council. President, Idaho Council of the International Reading Association, 1982-1983. State coordinator, 1993-present.

Other employment/ community involvement highlights: Vice president, Palouse Sunrisers Kiwanis Club. 4-H leader for 10 years, 1958-1960 and 1976 to 1984. Founding member, Lost River Community Arts Council, Lost River Senior Citizens Center, Butte/Custer Child Development Center.

Personal: Age 59, divorced, with two grown daughters and one 3-year-old grandson Moscow resident for 10 years.